How we will deliver our curriculum:

Our history curriculum is thematic and key themes, historical concepts & skills and knowledge are clearly planned to support pupil learning. Subject topics are the specific aspects of subjects that are studied e.g.  Significant People, Ancient Egypt, World War Two etc. Threshold concepts tie together the subject topics into meaningful schema. The same concepts are explored in a wide breadth of topics. 

The four threshold concepts in history are:

• Investigate and interpret the past – This concept involves recognising that our understanding of the past comes from an interpretation of the available evidence.
• Build an overview of world history – This concept involves an appreciation of the characteristic features of the past and that these features are similar and different across time periods, and an understanding that life is different for different sections of society.
• Understand chronology – This concept involves an understanding of how to chart the passing of time and how some aspects of history happened at similar times in different places.
• Communicate historically – This concept involves using historical vocabulary and techniques to convey information about the past.

For each unit, key vocabulary is taught explicitly and the core substantive knowledge and pertinent skills thread through each unit to allow pupils to integrate their new knowledge into larger core concepts.

History is an essential part of learning in EYFS  as it is incorporated in everyday learning. The historical aspects of the children’s work relate to the objectives set out in the early learning goals (ELGs).

In KS1, the children will begin by learning about small snapshots of history by considering changes within living memory to help children to understand how history is always being made. They will also look at local history in order for children to understand how their homes have been affected by people and events around them, giving them a regional identity. They will start to look at history on a global scale by looking at significant people and events from the past.

In KS2, children will begin to study specific periods in a chronological order. Children will continue to develop the concepts of historical enquiry by beginning to differentiate between primary and secondary sources and make independent evaluations of historical events. They will be able to build up an understanding of chronology from ancient history to modern history.